The San Pedro Sun

Highlighting Belizean Music-“Come Closer-Remix”- by TR Shine ft Melonie GillettThe multi-talented 29 year old Belizean songstress Melonie Gillett brings her melodious vocals to TR Shine’s single “Come Closer.” After hearing the original version to the song, Gillett goes on to say she immediately fell in love with the energy. “The melody and the lyrics were very catchy. TR and I had discussed a collaboration for some time now, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity. So I added a little twist to it.”
The two set out to the studio, working together to re-create the soca charged lyrics of TR Shine with Melonie’s flawless harmonies. Together they worked magic in re-creating the tune and the end result: “Come Closer-Remix” is nothing less than two thumbs up! The best part… it’s right in time for Carnival!

National Fishermen’s Producers Cooperative Society Ltd opens branch on the islandThe opening of a San Pedro outlet is welcome news for the local fishermen, because since the closure of the island’s Caribeña Producers Cooperative, they have been forced to find alternate options to sell their fishing product (sometimes traveling to the city). The Belize City based cooperative has a long history of working with local fishermen, since the products of the defunct Caribeña Producers Cooperative were processed by the National Fishermen Producers Cooperative Society Limited.
“We are looking at buying directly from both our members and non members on Ambergris Caye. We are working on training our staff on the island to be able to select our products. Once the training is completed, which will take a few weeks, we will be ready to start receiving fishery products on the island,” said Bradley. Besides purchasing fishery products, the outlet also has a wide variety of produce.

Belize Rural South has a new PUP executiveReplacing Paz is the New Party Chairman Nicholas “Nico” Varela. Varela is no stranger to politics, since he has served as a member of the San Pedro Town Council in the 90’s. His Vice Chairman is Councilor Gualberto “Wally” Nuñez, the only PUP councilor on the current town council. Joining the executive are Campaign Manager Darwin Palma, Deputy Campaign Manager Dina Graniel, Treasurer Rene Guzman, Vice Treasurer Pablo Sosa, Secretary Omar “Canasi” Guerrero, Public Relation and Media Coordinator Monica Gamez, Head of the Marshal Nigel Belisle, Coordinator of the Belize Youth Movement Jacqueline Eiley and Political Advisor Mike Estell.
Following the election process, Gamez told The San Pedro Sun that while the new executive has been elected, the official swearing in will take place on the 29th of September to coincide with the PUP’s 63rd anniversary. That event will take place at the PUP Headquarters at Independence Hall in Belize City.

Ambergris Today

Ministry of Health and Peace Corps Partner for Rural Family HealthA total of sixteen (16) new Peace Corps Volunteers are in country for a two year work mission. They aim to partner with community health workers on a Rural Family Health Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Peace Corps. Volunteers will be assigned to Cayo, Orange Walk, Toledo and Belize Districts.
The pioneer team arrived on June 26 and was enrolled in an intensive orientation and training program which ended August 13. This marks the first time that all volunteers will be assigned to the Ministry of Health to work in primarily rural communities for their stay; and the first all Peace Corps Volunteers will live with host families for the full duration of service.

Education in Belize: Enthusiasm! How long can/will it last?A family member of mine recently commented to me how very enthusiastic his youngest son is to be returning to Primary (Elementary) school this week, after a long summer vacation away from school. My first thought about that comment: How wonderful to see a young student enthusiastic about returning to school to continue disciplined learning! My second thought: I wonder how long that enthusiasm will last… My concluding thought: What should we educators and parents keep doing to instill and maintain that enthusiasm for learning in all students, everyday all year long?

Odd-Looking Fish Caught in San PedroThis weekend some fishermen drew in a big crowd as they came in with their big catch of the day; a boat-load of fish. There ware all different types of fish, but there was one in particular that stood out from the rest; it wasn't because of its color or size, but its bulging eyes. It was literally an eye-popping sight looking at this 'comic' fish. We believe it came from Bikini Bottom, too bad Spongebob and Patrik weren't around to say hello.

The Very First Plane Landing in San PedroThe serenity of the day was interrupted with this loud sound, that of a loud engine. When villagers looked up, they surprisingly and perhaps with some fear discovered that it was a plane. It circled around the village once and headed towards the reef. By that time the school children were out of their classes and all gleefully shouting at the beach.

Biologically Appropriate Technology or GMOBiologically appropriate technology is designed to do no harm to the environment – the air, water and soil in which we, and all animals, depend on for life. It is working with nature, not against it. It is learning from and respecting nature.
An example of biologically appropriate technology would be energy, produced on site where needed, from renewable sources.
Interestingly, energy is an area where humans have made some serious wrong turns and where we should have learned that we must be very careful about who is telling us what and why.
Having been an environmental journalist turned anti-nuclear/pro-renewable energy activist, I am seeing similar patterns in the debate over GMO corn as existed in the nuclear debate. The parallels lie in how the public was sold on nuclear power back when there was controversy and concern that nuclear power might not be “biologically appropriate technology.” Touted as being “safe, clean, and too cheap to meter” by the industries that financially benefited, nuclear energy turned out to be an expensive environmental nightmare, costing trillions, and many lives.

Misc Belizean Sources

Letter: My views on an elected senate in Belize The two political parties have been using the senate to appoint people to become ministers of their government over the elected members of the House of Representatives. I believe that, in a democracy, appointed people should never have more power than elected people. In this type of arrangement it is the opposite. The PUP has used this more than the UDP and, if I can remember correctly, Dean Barrow our current PM is the first UDP prime minister to appoint unelected people to be senators and then make them ministers of his government.
3. In the United States, the Senate has different functions from the House of Representatives that are clearly defined. If we are going to have an elected senate it will be wise to state what the duties of the senate will be that is different from the House of Representatives.

Pool Tournament at Mom's BackyardMom's Backyard hosted a 9 ball tournament Sunday. This was the first of many that will be held around Cayo. Congratulations to Wallace, Montes, and David! The next one will be a Halloween billiards tournament, so start honing your shooting skills.
"The 9 ball billiards tournament was held at Mom's Backyard today. Wallace took 1st, Montes was 2nd place, and David came in 3rd."

VIDEO: Belize Carnival King and Queen Competition 2013The Belize Carnival King and Queen Competition is growing by leaps and bounds with new entries and improved levels of costume making for Carnival 2013.
This year there were a total of 22 competitors in 4 different categories. The categories are Junior Queen, Junior King, Senior Queen and Senior King.
I must say that this was a very exciting event that had the crowds cheering, hooting, hollering and blowing whistles for their neighborhood representatives or the costume they thought was the best. The king and queen participant vigorously worked their costumes to the soca music of Belizean Artists TR Shine and Ernestine Carballo as well as many other international Soca Artists as the crowds cheered louder and louder.
In the end only one from each category could emerge victorious as the number 1 King and Queen.
This years winnners are:
Junior Queen
1st - Queen Tatiana - Sunshine Masqueraders
2nd - Queen Xateia - Sunshine Masqueraders
3rd - Queen Ixchel - Jump Street Posse
Junior King -
1st - King Charikanari - Jump Street Posse
2nd - King Heidies - Sunshine Masqueraders
3rd - King Aqua - Pickstock Carnival Band
Senior Queen
1st - Queen Fantasia - Eternity Mas Band
2nd - Queen Herta - Mother's Nature Creation
3rd - Queen La Bella - Mother's Nature Creation
Senior King.
1st - King Lionel - Belizean Jewels
2nd - King Marfin - Belizean Jewel
3rd - King Harmen - Trench Town Masqueraders

San Pedro Sailing Club Gets HelpWe are pleased to announce that the SPSC has secured the support of our sponsors from the Palapa Bar and Grill, Sanpedroweather.com, Ambergris Lakes and Palo Alto for the sole use of their boats for the purpose of training the children of San Pedro to sail, to race and to compete in all BzSA events. We have additional sponsors for a further 7 boats, and we graciously encourage participation by the boats of any and all other sponsors.
We will be holding the first race of the Fall (Autumn) Series this Sunday 15th of September, 10am at Coconuts which will qualify our sailors for the Corozal regatta and will promote our current contenders on to the BzSA Nationals in December.

Channel 7

Cop Killed Cop, COMPOL Says It’s Not MurderTonight, police are investigating the killing of a police constable, and the man who killed him is another constable. It’s an event that is virtually without precedent, but was it an accident, or a reckless and excessive use of firepower? We went looking for answers today:…
Jules Vasquez reporting
The police flag was at half mast with a bow over the door at eastern division headquarters for 24 year old Constable Dean Yearwood, who was killed on Saturday morning by another police.
Police Commissioner Allen Whylie says this is the first time such a cop on cop killing has happened in his 26 years in the department:
Allen Whylie - Commissioner of Police
"It's indeed a great loss for his family as well as the Belize Police Department - he was a good officer so indeed it was a tragedy that had befallen us."

Second Murder In Western Corridor in 24 HoursAnd while that is not being investigated as a homicide, murder is clearly the case in Western Belize where a man was found burned up in his car in Teakettle.
Daniel Aguirre was well known in Belize as the 2011 KTV Latino winner – but his fame and his winning voice played no role to a merciless killer on Friday night.
His became the second murder in the villages outside of Belmopan in less than 24 hours. Here’s what police know so far:..
Daniel Ortiz reporting
(Footage Courtesy PLUS TV)
Early Saturday morning, police found the car of the well-known Belmopan Taxi driver, Daniel Aguirre, abandoned on Pook's Hill Road near Tea Kettle Village.
ASP Sinquest Martinez - OC, Belmopan Police
"We responded to a call on Saturday morning in the Pook's Hill area behind Arizona village where we found a car, burnt and human remains inside the car."

Mas Guate Gold PannersThere are more Guatemalan Gold Panners in the Chiquibul to tell you about tonight. On Friday, the Southern Joint Forces Unit comprising BDF, Police and Friends for Conservation and Development rangers launched an operation in extreme southern are of the Chiquibul National Park. Around midday, they found five Guatemalan men gold panning more than five miles within Belizean territory. Three of them had vials with a total of about 20 grammes of gold. The market price is about $57.00 dollars per gramme. They were taken on the very long trek back to the San Ignacio Police Station where they were charged for illegal entry, defacing a protected area, extracting and possessing a mineral without a permit.
A release from the Friends for Conservation and Development says that the group had been operating in the area for a few days. Their arrest was preceded by another arrest earlier in the week when another Guatemalan was found with a vial of gold.
FCD reports that the four vials confiscated in the past week had a over 24 grams documented. They lament that gold extraction is now happening at the higher elevations of the Chiquibul headwaters. The release adds, quote,

Arrest In Roaring Creek MurderIn our top segment, we told you about the latest murder in Western Belize. Police continue to investigate that case, but while they're doing that, they say that they’ve solved the murder of 34 year-old Nigel Neal, who was killed in front of his mother’s house in Roaring Creek on Friday morning.
Today, Belmopan Police arrested and charged 20 year-old Erlin Giovanni Archiaga, a resident of Lloro, Honduras, with the crime of murder. We asked the Commanding Officer to explain to us what led them to make the arrest, and how confident investigators are of the case against Archiaga:

Man Who Beat Brother In Law Remanded47 year old Luis Gordon is spending his first night behind bars after he was remanded to prison for the attempted murder of 39 year old Roberto Gilharry, his brother-in-law.
They had a dispute about parking space in their shared yard early on Friday morning. Gordon reportedly approached Gilharry with a shovel and struck him to the left side of his head from behind. Gilharry stumbled to the ground and Gordon continued hit him several more times. The shovel then broke and Gordon then reportedly used the stick to hit Gilharry who was, by this time, close to losing consciousness.
Gilharry's common law wife then came out and tried to pull him into their house since he had fallen right at the door.

Mixed Messages From Placencia Village CouncilTonight, there are mixed messages coming out of the Placencia Village Council – after a strange press release. The release is based on a village meeting which was held two months ago on July 13th, 2013. That’s where villager Kristine Small raised the issue of Norwegian Cruise Line’s proposed Harvest Caye Cruise Tourism Project. There was a vote and Villagers took a decision to support the National Tourism Master Plan. That plan says
“the only acceptable form of cruise tourism for the southeast coast of Belize is pocket cruise tourism.”
Now, for those who don’t know, pocket cruises are those that have 250 – 300 passengers on board. Now, Norwegian Cruise Line, their ships like “The Epic” hold more than four thousand passengers, so that’s definitely not pocket cruising.
And that’s what makes today’s release so odd. Because after endorsing pocket cruising, it then goes on to use that miniature model to somehow endorse the mega cruising that Norwegian Cruise Line Represents. The statement says, quote,

Choreographed Craziness Of Carnival King & Queen CompetitionAll last week we showed you the Carnival Mas Camps - a crazy mash-up of the most delicate and detailed costume preparation alongside dance moves that are simultaneously raw and rehearsed. Indeed, carnival is a study in contrasts: elaborate, painstakingly put together costumes that are meant to be appreciated not in a show-window, but on the streets, in the kinetic craziness of carnival day.
That craziness though is not a one day thing; it’s like a tsunami that slowly swells, cresting only on carnival day. We get a chance to ride the wave at a few dates before it crashes unto the streets. The carnival King and Queen is one of them where all the big costumes are rolled out for a real time dress rehearsal. Here’s how this year’s event went:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
The 2013 Carnival King and Queen Competition was all about grandeur. The costume entries were elaborate with razor sharp attention to details, and elaborate, carefully chosen colors.

Marion Jones Complex, Coming On, SlowlyLast week Wednesday, the minister of state with responsibility for Sports had to defend what looks like painfully slow progress on the construction of the Marion Jones Sporting Complex.
He challenged the media to tour the facility ourselves to see just how far along the contractors are. Today, he organized that tour and Daniel Ortiz was there:
Longsworth plans to launch his master plan to talk about the additional parts of the stadium. He stressed that these additions will not delay the access to the facility in any way, and he still plans to have it open to the public by the end of the year.

Territorial Volunteers Faced Off With GAFOn Sunday Will Maheia’s Belize Territorial Volunteers had a confrontation with the Guatemalan military. It happened in the Sarstoon River – which forms Belize’s southern border with Guatemala. Maheia said they went out to put a flag on Sarstoon Island which – according tot eh 1859 treaty is the southern-most point in Belize – exactly halfway across the Sarstoon – the other half of the river is in Guatemala.
Meheia says he and his volunteers were on the Belize side of the river when a heavily armed Guatemalan military patrol came over into the Belize side of the river to question them. Maheia says the encounter started out with a hint of confrontation when the Guatemalans started to question him but after a while that was defused. The encounter ended cordially – and the Guatemalan military went back to their side of the river.

Belize’s Girls Did Good!On Friday, we told you how Belize’s youth female volleyballers were in Guatemala City waiting for the outcome of a match to determine if they would qualify for a medal in the Central American Championship.
Well, it didn’t go their way, and they came in fourth. Still the team came home on Saturday with their heads high as Belizean players won won 4 of the 9 individual awards. Karen Quan won Best Setter, Kevanna Sebastian won Best Blocker, Nayala Tun won Best Digger and Best Libero.
A release form the volleyball association says “We are all very proud of their success.”

Is shooting death considered murder?Commissioner Whylie, flanked by the brass of the Belize Police Department, also commented on the direction of the investigation, as well as the subsequent action to be taken against Grant [...]

Did Elrich Trench attack his landlord?A tenant who clashed with his landlord found himself before the court this morning. Elrich Trench was arraigned in the court of the Chief Magistrate, Ann Marie Smith, for two [...]

The Kings and Queens of Carnival 2013This coming Saturday, the spectacular Carnival Road March kicks off at the Yarborough Green at noon ending at Memorial Park after hours of constant gyration on the streets and choreographed [...]

LOVE FM

Police Says Man Was Going Equipped with ToolsA man was charged for “going equipped”. According to Police reports, on Friday, September 6 at around 4:35am Corozal CIB Officers were in the Joseito Layout Area in Corozal Town conducting mobile patrol when their attention was drawn to a male person dressed in black shirt and dark color three quarter pants riding on a bicycle. Police recognized the individual as 33 year old Jeremy Matura. A search was conducted on his person which resulted in the discovery of a blue Phillips screw driver and a yellow and brown flat screw driver and a rusty silver looking vice- grip in his right front pants pocket. Matura who is a Belizean laborer of San Antonio village, Corozal District, was arrested and charged for going equipped

Police Confiscates Drugs and Charges Driver for PossessionOn Friday at about 11:00pm Corozal Police were on mobile patrol on 7th Avenue, Corozal Town, when they saw a red Nissan Sentra car being driven at the time by Israel Rancharan of Halls Layout. As a result Police stopped the car and informed the driver that a search would be conducted on his vehicle. Nothing incriminating was found. The driver was informed that the vehicle will be brought to the police station for further searches. Police escorted Rancharan along with his vehicle to the Police Station, where upon arriving at the police station a further search was conducted in the vehicle in presence of the driver, where between the two front seat police found a transparent plastic bag containing, two small parcels containing green leafy vegetable substances suspected to be cannabis, it was shown to the accused, he was cautioned and told his constitutional rights. The suspected drugs were weighed amounting to 53.3 grams. Rancharan was arrested and charged for possession of controlled drug.

Family Feud In Belize City Leaves Man InjuredForty-seven year old Luis Gordon, a resident of Amara Avenue who allegedly beat his brother-in-law with a shovel and chopped him with a machete, was charged with attempted murder and grievous harm when he appeared in court. Magistrate Dale Cayetano did not take a plea because the offences are indictable. He remanded Gordon into custody until October 28. The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. on September 6. Thirty-seven year old Roberto Gilharry, who reside in the same yard as Gordon, reported to the police that Gordon beat him with a shovel and chopped him with a machete on the left side of his shoulder. He said that he felt like he was going to pass out and he was spared further injury when his wife pulled him inside his house.

Cop Kills Cop; Parents of Deceased Speak to Love NewsMother of deceased policeman 24 year old Dean Yearwood declined an on camera interview this morning but spoke lengthy our reporter. Porfiria Yearwood explained that her family is in shock over the death of her eldest son who had a passion for his profession. She describes him as a caring and loving young man who looked after his parents and siblings.
She explained that on Sunday morning she and the rest of the family were getting ready to go to church when a relative called them by phone to give them the bad news. At the same time, they were visited by the Orange Walk police department who confirmed that her son had been shot in Belize City. Both Dean’s parents travelled to Belize City later where they identified their son at the morgue. Yearwood told us that her husband was privy to review a video tape from a business establishment close to where the incident occurred and he explained that it seemed to be an accident which led to her son getting shot.

Towhead and Sedan Collide on Belize’s Northern HighwayOn Friday, September 6 at about 8:30p.m. Corozal police visited an area between miles 69 and 70 where upon their arrival they saw an extensively damaged grey Toyota Corolla car on the left hand side of the highway facing a western direction. Also at the scene was a towhead truck with a trailer used to transport butane. Initial investigation revealed that the towhead truck driven at the time by 33-year-old, Jose Arevalo of Palin Esquitra, Guatemala, was travelling from Orange Walk Town towards Corozal and the car was travelling in the opposite direction when the driver of the car, 53-year-old, Ricardo Villanueva of San Pedro Street, Orange Walk Town reportedly lost control of the vehicle causing a head on collision with the truck.

PlusTV

Man gunned down outside home in Roaring Creek
The streets have been relatively quiet for the past couple of weeks, but that all came to a halt on Friday when a resident of Roaring Creek was shot dead in front of his home. Shadel Dyer-Young reports. Shadel Dyer-Young: 34 year old...

Arthur Baptist passes away months after being shot
In June 24 year old Arthur Baptist of Neal’s Pen Road in Belize City and his uncle Melvin, 44, were watching an NBA playoff game at home when gunmen suddenly arrived on the scene and shot at them. Both men sustained severe injuries. Melvin was...

Police investigate bomb threat at UB
On Thursday night, we told you of a report of a bomb threat at the University of Belize in Belmopan. Just before six Thursday night, someone called the security offices of the Institution warning that there was a bomb on campus. The call lasted for just...

Peace Corps launches Belize Rural Family Health Project
The Peace Corps is an independent US government agency that traces its roots back to 1960 when the then US Senator John F. Kennedy challenged a group of students to promote peace and welfare in their country by living and working...

Guatemalan immigrant arrested for illegal entry
A Guatemalan immigrant was arrested Friday morning for illegal entry into the country. Reports have it that between hours of 7:00 am and 9:30 am the F.C.D Rangers, B.D.F and the Police conducted a joint operation in the Ceibo Chico area in the Chiquibul National Park located in Belize...

Belmopan celebrates Battle of St. George’s Caye Holiday
Hi–hip hooray – it’s the most celebratory month of the year, as Belizeans recognize both the Battle of St. George’s Caye and Independence Day of course. The Belmopan City Council has a number of activities planned for this month, we checked with Events Coordinator Raquel Ramos for details. Raquel...

Parades rerouted in Belize City
When this Belize City Council took office last year they set an ambitious target of 100 streets concreted in one year. They are close to the goal, however it comes at the cost of traffic jams and constant changes in routes around the City. For the first time in...

Schools celebrate International Literacy Day
September 8 is International Literacy Day, but it was being observed on Friday. Across the City and in Dangriga and Belmopan there were activities at local schools involving storytelling and creative writing, many with patriotic themes. But things were a little different at Wesley Lower School where PLUS News...

“Container Collection” launched at SJC
From the authors and creators behind the Landings series and the Zero exhibition comes “The Container Collection,” a sort of anthology of the ideas, images and thinking of over 100 visual artists, writers and thinkers from the so-called “Hurricane Zone” – Central America, the Caribbean, and the Yucatan Peninsula...

GOB Supports Mega-Project
By Belizeans Businessman:The Government of
Belize supports, in
principle, the Mega-
Million Dollar
Project unveiled
this past week by Belizean Developer
Mike Feinstein to build
a docking facility at Stake Bank
just off the coast of Belize City.
That’s what Hon. John
Saldivar, who was Acting Prime
Minister at the time, told reporters
on Thursday, one day
following the announcement
by Feinstein and his group. The
project, Feinstein says, entails
an immediate investment of
over $100 Million and will create
thousands of jobs.
“We certainly welcome
the concept, we welcome the
investors that are trying to put
this project off the ground, but
as with everything else - they
need to go by the rules and
they have to do their EIA’s, and
once they pass through the various
processes - then it’s a go,”
Saldivar told reporters.

Belmopan Wins Atlantic
Bank Female Football: The Belmopan
Triple B’s won
the 2013 Atlantic
Bank female
football championship
by drilling the Ladyville
Jaguars 8-0 in Game 2 of the finals
at the FFB Stadium in Belmopan
on Saturday, September 7.
Game 1 of the finals had
ended in a 0-0 draw at the MCC
grounds on Saturday, August 31.
Belmopan’s Kaina Martinez
and Miriam Villamil led the attack with the help of Iris Centeno
and Joslyn “Chu-chu” Cadle
on the wings and Kaya Cattouse
and Jennisha Scott at midfield.
Ladyville Jaguars was
sorely missing Shineele Gentle
who had to sit out the game
following a red card suspension
from the first final aand
their star sweeper Sara Arzu
was also missing in action.

Celebrating 21 5th Anniversary
of Battle of St. George’s Caye: Tuesday, September 10
marks the 215th Anniversary of
the Battle of St. George’s Caye.
One of the most central
elements of the celebration
is the crowning of the Queen
of the Bay, which takes place
during the Official Battle
of St. George’s Caye Day
Ceremonies, traditionally held
at the Memorial Park in the
Old Capital, Belize City.
This year’s Queen of the
Bay is Toledo’s Jahrine Avila, the Bay Pageant at the Bliss
Institute for the Performing
Arts in Belize City on Friday
night, August 30.
Miss Stann Creek
Verinicia Vernon won 1st
runner-up, while second
runner up was Miss Belmopan,
Mikayla Venise Banner, who
also won the talent section that
took place two weeks earlier.

A Good Time to be Belizean: The National
September
Celebrations
are here!
The Tenth is right upon
us, and Independence is
just around the corner.
No matter what our
personal situation, every
warm-blooded Belizean
this time of the year
is somehow infected by
the patriotism and festiveness
that fills the air.
This year, as we commemorate
our nationhood,
our sovereignty and
our right to self-determination,
the celebrations
somehow seem to take
on a bit more meaning
than they ordinarily do.
Indeed, there are
some tangible and timely,
if not overdue, developments
newly unfolding,
which are worth
quite a celebration, as
they truly serve to reinforce
and consummate
the Independence
we nominally attained
over three decades ago.

Promoting Literacy for a Peaceful Belize: Literacy Day Celebrated in Belmopan with Schools’ Parade
Friday September 6, 2013 Through Principal Streets of the Capital City. Literacy Day this year
is being observed Worldwide
on Sunday September
8, but in Belize it was observed
two days earlier on
Friday September 6, 2013.
In Belmopan, as in
Belize City, a number of
schools held activities to
mark the day. In the Nation’s
Capital a combined Schools’
Parade was held through
the major streets of the City.
The Day was observed
with the theme, “Promoting
Literacy for a Peaceful Belize”.

When Culture and Carnality Converge: On the exterior
we see
sparkling
images of
Belizean
flora and fauna, jubilant faces
and bodies of all shades
of brown, accentuated by
colourful clothing and glittering
paint, swaying and
vibrating in the sweltering
heat to the pulsating
rhythm of cultural music.
For a while we forget
our dividing socio-economic
and political differences and
unite to celebrate our natural
heritage and cultural diversity.
However, a closer look at
our Belizean Carnival will reveal
much more than culture.
The clothing, if you
call it that, seems inadequate
and attracts lustful stares
and arousals, the male dancers
seem to prefer effeminate
outfits and moves and
the dances are sexually suggestive
and perverted. Even
the movement of our young
children illustrate that their
innocent minds have been
corrupted as they give adult
onlookers “bedroom” lessons,
while their intoxicated mothers
cheer them on with pride.

Belize - United States Partnership Reaffirmed: New SOUTHCOM Commander Visits Belmopan: The welcome could not
have been any warmer than it
was last Thursday when General
John F. Kelly, the new
head of the U.S. Southern
Command touched down in
Belmopan. It was the first ever
visit to Belize for the seasoned
and decorated General who is
now responsible for all operations
of the US Army from below
Mexico all the way down
to the tip of South America.
The General’s visit
started the day before,
Wednesday September 4 and
took him along the Country’s
borderline waters by helicopter,
in addition to important to the tip of South America.
Incidentally, or maybe not so
incidentally, General, I would
like to point out that Belize
is, geographically speaking,
the first nation south of Mexico;
and I would like to think
that we are also first in line
for assistance and joint-initiatives
under your command.”
As noted in Channel
Five’s Evening newscast in a
report by its special assignment
reporter, Mike Rudon,
“The U.S. Southern Command
has been a very friendly
partner in Belizean development
– in areas ranging from
medical care and infrastructure
assistance to training
and the donation of military
expertise and equipment,
very often on a large scale.

Remarks by Hon. John Saldivar Welcoming General John F. Kelly to Belize: Miss Margaret
Hawt
h o r n e ,
Chargé d
‘Affai re s,
US Embassy, Belize; General
John F. Kelly, Commander,
US Southern Command; Lieutenant
Colonel Ricardo Gonzalez,
US Military Liaison Officer,
Belize; Colonel (ret.) George
Lovell, CEO, Ministry of National
Security; General David
Jones, Commander, Belize Defence
Force; Rear Admiral John
Borland, Commandant, Belize
Coast Guard; Mr. Allen Whylie
Commissioner, Belize Police
Department; Members of the
various security forces present;
Other distinguished guests;
Members of the Media; Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Good afternoon. It gives
me great pleasure to welcome to
Belize for his first visit ever, General
John F. Kelly, Commander
of the US Southern Command.
For those of you that
don’t know, General Kelly is in
charge of all operations and
initiatives by the United States
Military from below Mexico all
the way down to the tip of South
America.

Biography of General John F. Kelly: Commander of United States Southern Command: General
Kelly was
born and
raised in
Boston,
MA. He enlisted in the
Marine Corps in 1970, and
was discharged as a sergeant
in 1972, after serving
in an infantry company
with the 2nd Marine Division,
Camp Lejeune, NC.
Following graduation
from the University
of Massachusetts in 1976,
he was commissioned
and returned to the 2nd
Marine Division where he
served as a rifle and weapons
platoon commander,
company executive
officer, assistant operations
officer, and infantry
company commander.
Sea duty in Mayport, FL,
followed, at which time
he served aboard aircraft
carriers USS Forrestal
and USS Independence.
In 1980, then Captain
Kelly transferred to
the U.S. Army’s Infantry
Officer Advanced Course
in Fort Benning, GA. After
graduation, he was assigned
to Headquarters
Marine Corps, Washington,
DC, serving there
from 1981 through 1984, as
an assignment monitor.

GREAT Documentary Launched by Police Department : Gang Resistance Education And Training:This past Thursday,
September
5, 2013 in
Belize City, the
Police Department
launched a historic documentary
which chronicles
the success of a joint initiative
in which that department
is the lead agency, and which
involves the US Embassy in
a collaborative effort which
puts trained Police Officers in
the classroom to impart real
life skills to our young people.
The program is patterned
off a similar program
that originated and was implemented
in the United States. In
Belize the program got started
back in 2008. It has reportedly
been a remarkable success, and
the public now gets an opportunity
through this video documentary
to witness a great deal of it. The program is administered
through the Community
Policing Unit which is
now headed by Senior Superintendent
of Police Louise Willis.

Another Historic September Day:
First National Bank of Belize Opens In Belmopan: Now, Ladies and
gentlemen,
this is one
time when,
in describing
the proceedings as historic, we
engage in no hyperbole. The
launch of the National Bank of
Belize is an accomplishment for
the ages.
And so I want to start by
immediately thanking the very
many persons that have made
it possible. Principal among
them are Minister Joy Grant,
Chairperson of the Board of Directors,
and all the other Board
members including, of course,
the Managing Director, Mr. Jose
Marin. Minister Grant, though,
has perhaps done more than
anyone else to make this a reality.
I know that Saturday evening
when I was becoming concerned,
because having passed
here on Friday and having seen
that we were not all together in a
state of readiness, she reassured
me by indicating that she was
even then at the Bank engaging
in helping to sweep the premise.

Address by Honourable Joy Grant
Chair of the National Bank of Belize: It is my pleasure to welcome
you all to a historic
event in the evolution
of the financial
sector in Belize, and
as a result, in the economic
wellbeing of our Belizean People,
the establishment of the
National Bank of Belize, and
the opening of its first branch
here in Belmopan.
This opening marks
the successful realization of a
vision shared by Belizeans of
different political affiliations
but united in their belief in the
value to our people of a bank
whose focus is on serving the
financial interest of all Belizeans,
whose goal is not about
maximizing profit but about
providing the working class
Belizean with the financial assistance
and knowledge they
require to improve their living
standards through the construction
and purchase of new
homes, and later the renovation
and upgrading of existing
residences.
The impetus for operationalizing
the vision by establishing
he Bank at this time
originated with Prime Minister
the Honorable Dean Barrow.

Partnering for Rural Family Health The Ministry of Health and the Peace Corps: A total of sixteen
(16) new
Peace Corps
Volunteers are
in-country for
a two year work mission. They
aim to partner with community
health workers on a Rural Family
Health Programme, an initiative
of the Ministry of Health and
Peace Corps. Volunteers will be
assigned to Cayo, Orange Walk,
Toledo and Belize Districts.
The pioneer team arrived
on June 26th and was enrolled
in an intensive orientation and
training program which ended
August 13tb. This marks the
first time that all volunteers will be assigned to the Ministry of
Health to work in primarily rural
communities for their stay; and
the first all Peace Corps Volunteers
will live with host families
for the full duration of service.

Miley Garcia Cayo Softball Finals: Camalote Blazers Win Game One Over Roaring Creek: The Camalote
Blazers are one
game away
from winning
the 2013 Miley
Garcia Female Softball
Championship in the competition
organized by the
Cayo Softball Association.
Camalote won Game
One of the finals 1-0 over the
Roaring Creek Grace Kennedy
at the Denbeigh Fuller
Stadium in Camalote
on Sunday, September 8.
Camalote’s veteran
pitcher Francine Salazar struck
out 4 batters and walked one,
giving up 5 hits, but even
though the Camalote fielders
committed one error, the Roaring
Creek girls scored no runs,
leaving 6 runners on base.

Island Life: Things I Saw Today Interesting to MeOne of the things that I love about living on Ambergris Caye is that there is so much to see. Even the shortest walk can take me an hour…I have to stop and take 100 pictures. Here are some interesting things that I saw this morning.
Some are also posted on my facebook page, so I apologize for the repetition but not everyone is a total Face-boob like I am.
As “The Scoop” (I get called that about 15x a day…probably by people that don’t know my name), I am interested in most things. So, if you have a topic or want to see a picture, send me an email and I’ll try to get on it. OR, even better, if you have an interesting picture from this island or anywhere in Belize, I’d LOVE to see it. I’m not above idle gossip either. SanPedroScoop@hotmail.com.
Here are some photos.
Some very cute sisters walking to school.

Top 5 Must Do Adventure Tours in BelizeSince the new global tourism trend is focused on experience, we have decided to share with you an exciting new project coming out from Western Belize. The Lodge at Chaa Creek, a pioneer in luxury adventure travel since 1981 is today launching their Chaa Creek Inland Expeditions Day Tours.
For travelers who are seeking comfort, security and some luxury at an affordable price, you should definitely check these out.
If one day isn’t enough, you can always decide to stay at the Macal River Camp (recently named by the Daily Beast as one of the world’s top five places to Glamp) located within Chaa Creek’s 365-acre private rainforest reserve.
The tours are designed with the adventurer at heart. Chaa Creeks’ founders Mick & Lucy Fleming have always been avid adventurers, having ventured off to Belize in an adventurers quest and deciding that the Belizean rainforest is where they would now be calling home. The tours are safe for all levels of ages and fitness, and can be booked at Chaa Creek’s reservations office on Burns Avenue Street in San Ignacio Town, Belize, Central America.

September Brings . . .Seasons cycle, and September begins. Among many things, September brings a window portal into the local scene.
September brings the classic feel of Caye Caulker, the feel of a quaint fishing village captured in a 1960s shot with a filmy grain photo filter that emits the relaxation and serenity of an undiscovered tropical paradise. The sun and the moon dictate the only concept of time; nothing is gained nor lost in a few minutes of time, so don’t rush. Throw yourself into a timeless bliss. September brings the true essence of our motto, “Go Slow,” that invites a spirit of renewal. Travelers, backpackers, and vacationers –all those who visit need no agenda. Come and just be. The sea is yours. Camouflage yourself against the mosaic strips of aqua and blue. It’s a time when the island truly feels as though it were your own, the time of year when visitors are caught into devotion and fall into the temptation of making Caye Caulker a permanent place of retreat.
For residents, September brings a slight pause in the hustle of daily business, but brings in the bustle of a new school year. As parents align fresh uniforms for their children and tighten their children’s schedules, children in turn enjoy a brand new set of school supplies, and brag about their next grade level. It’s a time when parents, all too much, seem as if it were they themselves returning to school as they gear their children back towards a studious mindset.

Launch of National Agro-Processing Training Program ROC TaiwanThe Agro-Processing Program is one that promises to upgrade the income of youth and women. It is currently the Pilot Program of Belize’s soy sauce production and commercialized dehydrated papaya program. Today, the program which is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Agriculture and the Technical Mission of the Republic of China Taiwan, was officially launched.

“Beat It” in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize.San Pedro really got in to the September Celebrations tonight at Central Park to celebrate on the eve of St George’s Caye Day and Rose and I went there to see our new neighbours honouring their history.
There were loads of people there around 18.30 hours even though it was way in advance of the start of the show but they were more than ready to beat it with the San Pedro High School Marching Band.
Belize flag blowing proudly in the breeze proudly over the venue.

16 Underwater Photos from the Belize Barrier ReefEver since learning how to scuba dive it has been natural to combine with my interest in photography and record what I experience underwater. This is a collection of my favorite underwater photos from my diving trips in Belize this year.
Belize is home to the second largest reef in the world, a designated world heritage site. Every time I’m in the water in Belize I find something I haven’t previously seen before; and that’s part of what makes scuba so exciting. Come with me as dive below the surface into an alien world packed with sea-life!

International Sources

Reports of John McAfee's death greatly exaggeratedJohn McAfee and danger have a long history.
The founder of McAfee software claimed he would die and allegedly also faked a near-death experience. The man wanted by Belize authorities in the shooting death of a former neighbor managed to escape that Central American country last year, claiming police would kill him. He also reportedly escaped deportation from Guatemala by faking a heart attack.
Still, reports Monday of his demise have been greatly exaggerated.
An Internet report claimed the high-living former tech CEO died at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, "a result of a suspected cocaine and alcohol fuelled (sic) binge." The first clue that this might not be the case was McAfee's official twitter feed sending out the story of his death. In the tweet, McAfee (or someone claiming to be him) said, "I felt fine when I went to bed last night."
Another tweet followed two hours later, saying, "For those wondering if im dead the answer is...'The Media is killing me, but somehow im still tweeting' #NotDeadYet." The tweet

Belize Developer Moving Ahead With Island ProjectA Belize developer has revived plans to build a $100 million tourism and cruise ship facility on islands southeast of Belize City.
In a public conference last week, Michael Feinstein, president of the Feinstein Group of Companies, detailed plans to build a deep water port on Stake Bank Caye for a cruise ship dock, as well as a retail, marina and residential development on nearby North Drowned Caye. A concrete causeway would connect the islands to the mainland.
The project has been discussed for a decade but the development was delayed by "government interference," Mr. Feinstein told the conference. The current plan still does not have government approvals, but Mr. Feinstein said the proposal is back on the agenda.

Weathering the storm: Belize is on a path to climate resilienceWhen you mention Belize, most people imagine white sandy beaches lined with warm Caribbean waters that invite tourists to exotic views of aquatic life and endless wonderment of nature. But there’s another side—one that is fragile and vulnerable to climatic changes that are already affecting livelihoods and Belize’s economy. Determined to transform Belize’s future, business and community leaders, as well as representatives from each ministry, are standing up to climate change by assessing past mistakes, offering fresh ideas, and looking forward to identify a path to build climate resiliency (video).
As you fly into Belize City, the financial and industrial center of Belize and home to the country's only international airport, the low-lying terrain is dramatic. Pools of water expose the frequent flooding that occurs, and the coastline appears to dissolve seamlessly into the Caribbean Sea. Already small changes in sea-level rise are making significant impacts on Belize’s most populated city.

NASA on InstagramNASA Explore the universe and discover our home planet with the official NASA Instagram account

A Water Lover’s Paradise: Belize’s Affordable Caribbean IslandIf you want to “get away from it all,” tropical-island style, there may be no place better in Belize to do it than Caye Caulker. This five-mile-long island—only half of which is really inhabited—sits in dream-worthy, turquoise Caribbean waters. Its three main streets (imaginatively named Front, Middle, and Back) are packed sand. And the main modes of transportation are by bicycle and on foot (preferably barefoot).